Shooglenifty

Shooglenifty is one of Scotland's most unique exports. This six-piece band is credited for being the originators of 'acid-croft', a fiery and infectious blend of Celtic traditional music and dance grooves that band members describe as "hypno-folkadelic ambient trad.” While their mainly instrumental sound is difficult to put into words, audiences from around the world have fallen under their musical spell.

Many people think the name Shooglenifty has deep Scottish meaning but it was, in fact, a flash of inspiration that guitarist Malcolm Crosbie had in a Madrid tapas bar during one of the band's early busking periods. Shoogle is a Scottish word for shake, agitate, move around, and 'nifty' means dextrous.

Shooglenifty released their first album, Venus in Tweeds, in 1994 with several more to follow. The band has gone from strength to strength, breaking down musical boundaries between the mainstream and folk music. Shooglenifty band originals, mandolin maestro Iain MacLeod and bassist Conrad Ivitsky have moved on but Shooglenifty continues to go from strength to strength.